Tennis racket



TENNIS RACKET FIG 5 wuemtoz .1.1.. KLEINMAN Filed July 6, 1929 Patented July 19,'V 1932 `Application'med July e, 1929. Serin No. 376,387. j.

` This invention relates to tennis racket` and more particularly to rackets of the adjustable type. l

A primary object vis to provide a racket with means tor readily adjusting the tension of the strings.

.Another object is toprovide aracket with' string adjusting means thattake up a minimum of space in the playingl field.

Still another Objectis to' provide a racket that is simple in construction, durable in use and economical to manufacture.`

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the description thereof to follow taken in Connection with the accompanying drawing in .which-v Figure 1 is a front viewot a racket embodying my present invention.; f u L y Figure 2 is.V an enlarged'` sectional view through the handle and part. of the frame.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailview of the movable bar. p" Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the string supporting member, 4parts bein broken away for clearness. ,l p

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the connection between the movable :barv

and bushing member. s

Figure 6 is a bottom planview ot thestring supporting member shown in Figure 4.`

Figure 7 is a sectional `view on the plane indicated by the line 7 7 of Figure 6. l

Figure 8 is a detail `viewV showing the mountingof the string on the string 'supportingmember. i" Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved racketcomprisesa tramelO supporting 'verticalstrings 11 and` horizontal strings 12 and a handle 18. The frame and handle may ot coursebe made of wood, metal or any other suitable material Tas desired. Formed inthe inner periphery 'of the frame adjacent theV handle is VanV elongated slotV 14 and on either .side of saidl slotare .aligned openings -15 fora purpose whichwill appear.

'lhe'handle 13 is provided with an elongated "chamber o r recess 16 extendingtrom the lower lend thereofto a point a little beyond midway its length, which chamber terminates 4at `its upper end in '.a lbevelledy Proof portion 17. l Extending from this' chamber throughthe handle to the slot 14 in the frame..

is a narrow bore 18.7 A bolt or pin v19 extends across fthe chamber 16` about midway its length. i i

A string supporting member 20, shown in Figure 4, is mounted in thev slot V14:. fThe' depth ofthisfsupportingmember is slightly greater `than the depth of the slot 14 so that its upper edge, in whichis-forined a plurality of openings..21, extends above the inner pe- Figure 1. The body'of this member is shaped to conform Yto theshape of thel frame. and isV 'l Y porting member is positioned'in the slot `14,

'riphery of the frame asv will hej-noted from y are adapted to register with the aligned openl A. ings 15 in the trame.y The'diamete'r of these.A

slots;'23 are slightly greater'than the diameter Y of the openings 1 5 so that pins or bolts pass- .ing through said openings and slots will secure. the supporting member to the Atrame but at the lsame ltime permit upand down move-A I'nentsv of the Vsupporting member as `will be understood. The lowermost endsotall of the vertical'strings 11 with the exception of the furthermost two on each side and theends of the lowermost horizontal'string'12` are shown'aspassingthrough the openings 21 twicethrough the frame, as indicated at 11',

before it forms the extreme side runs which are not connected with the member 20, where- Vbv looseningl and slipping `ofthe string is prevented. i l

VSlidably mounted inthe handleis a rigid member herein shown Aas a flat metal bar24, terminatingV at one endin an eyelet or loop 25 and being Yturned over on itself at the other "end to form an elongated loop portion 26. The elongated loop portion 26 is adapted Vto move in the' chamber 16 andencircles the Y andare given a single twi'stasappears from v pin 19.3' `This pin guides the bar in its up andk n down'movement and also prevents the turn-H ing of'samen- The remaining portion o f the.` barmovesin the bore'18. The 1oop25 isse-` Vcured to a pin or bolt 27 mountedin the member and spanning the slot 22 as seen f in Figurei. On the lower end of the loop portion 26 is an externally screw v threaded metal sleeve or bushing 28 connected to the bar by means of apin 29.

Extending into the open end ofthe handleY k13 and orming an extension thereof is an internally screw'threaded sleeve 30- provided with an enlarged portion 31, and tapered shank 3l witha spacetherear'ound and.V see'V cured thereto by means of a pin 32 is a ring memebr 33, said ring extending to a point slightly removed from the shoulder formed r by the reduced and enlarged portions'of the sleeve 30. On the upper edge of this ring 33 and kbetweenthering and the edge lofthe' handle isa washer 3 4; Restingon the other edge of the .ring .S3-and theiou'ter edge ofV the sleeve is a disc 35 and covering this `disl vandgthe outer edges of the ring 33 is a strip of leather 36, thefedge of which isturned-inwardly and disposed between the ringr33. and

ythe outer gripping lmember 37 formedof leather. By reason of this construction, the

' extension ofthe handle is made very durable e and a gripping meansfisprovided which perf ,mits turning of the operating means.

In operation, thesleeve'SOis positioned over the bushing 28.y When the sleeve 30'is turned to theright, the bushing 28, by reason of its screw threaded engagement withsaid sleeve,

is-moved downwardly `carrying the bar 24 i and'associated parts alongwithit thereby Atensioning the strings aswillbe understood.'vv v This movement is. guided by the pin 19.

Turning the sleeve 3() in the.V opposite directionlof course releases the tension` and vper mits the strings to become loosened.,-`

The string 'supporting member r20, it will be noted, isprovided with a plurality of pe'- ripheral slots 38betweenv thebearing members :tor the :middle strings. This construction provides a minimum of resistance to the lair in.usingtheracketV On either sides of these slots 38 Vthe supportingirmember20 is uninterruptedV byl vperipheral slots' so VasY to strengthen and reinforce theracket at these points-as there is .considerable strain thereat` when the strings aretensioned.A Thisrnemher y20 protrudes onlyY a slight distance above the inner `periphery of the vframe affording very little Vobstruction to the playing ield of the racket. f

v- Supporting .the stringson a member'separatefrom the frame eliminatesfthe necessity of boring holes in the racket at the neck portion as will be understood. y f

. Although `I harvesmentioned in describing my invention ofwhat materials certain parts Vmay be made, yet I desire itto lbe understood l.that this racket, or. parts thereof, maybe made of anyY suitable material and that various changes in details-maybe'resorted to Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention and therebetween I desire to be limited only the stater'of prior art. v

I claim: LA tennis racket comprising 'a frame,

strings within saidV frame, a handle, a rigid.

member, a string supporting member pivo'talp ly connected to'said rigid member, yandan extension forming part o saidghandle opera'- Vtively` connected to said Vrigid Vmember for'V operating the same to tighten or loosen the strings. j

2. A tennis racket comprising a frame, a

handle, strings within said frame, a movable barf,.a string supporting vmember'vpivotallyl connected toone endfof said bar, the other end of said bar, provided with a screw-threaded' portion and an extension Nformingz partV ot Y saidhandleoperatively connected `to said Vscrew threaded portionfor operatingy said bar to tighten or loosen the strings. v

3 QA tennis racket comprising a `frame, a handle,strings within saidvframe, a movable bar, a string supporting member pivotally connected toone end of said bar, thefother vend of said bar,pro vided with a screw-thread-` ed portion,a'member adapted to engage said screw threaded portion, said member having aportion forming an extension and a p'art'of said handle. Y 'i i 4; A tennis racket comprising a string supporting frame, ahandle, a device for tensioning the strings including a movable member .and a pin carried by said handle for guiding ,on said pin and means formovingsaidelement and said stringsupporting member.

. 6. Atennisracket lcomprising Va frame, a

hollow handle, strings Vsupported by said frame, means for tensioning 'saidastringsincluding a rotatable extension forming part of the handle, said extension havinga taperedA portion extending inwardly of the, main body ofthe handle the base lofthe tapered portion V being of the same diameter as the inner wall of the mainbody of the Vhandle toail'ord a ltion being. spaced from the inner wall of the main body of the handle to minimize friction sion. t

7. A racket comprising av frame, strings upon operation Vof' said extenstretchedwithin said frame, a handle, ,and a device for tensioning the strings. comprising a string anchoring member', a rigid'Y element movable longitudinally within said handle and pivotally connected withfsaid member Aand 'means whereby a pull may ble exertedgon said element to' eii'ect tightening of the strings. Y

8. A racket comprising' a rame,? a rneck' portion, a handle, strings within saidfmme, 13o;KVV

l' bearing and the remainder ofthe taperedpori f a tensioning device for certain of said strings comprising a member engagmg'such strings, a rod within sald handle, means for moving said rod longitudinally to tighten or loosen f said strings, and avpivotal connection between said member and said rod whereby said member may move angularly with respect to the latter.

9. A racket comprising a frame, strings within said frame, a handle, a movable member protruding fromsaid frame for supporting certain of said strings, said memberpivotally connected to an element in a manner to permit relative movement therebetween, and means for exerting a pull on said element.

10. A racket comprising a frame, a neck portion, a hollow handle, strings arranged in intersecting rows within said frame and defining the playing surface of said racket, a string tightening device engaging certain of said strings, means for moving said tightening device longitudinally to tighten or loosen such strings, and means anchored in the racket structure below said playing sur- Y face and engaging Within said tightening device to resist rotational movement thereof.v

11. A racket comprising a rameLa neck portion, a hollow handle, strings arranged in intersecting rows within said frame and dening the playing surface of said racket, a string tighteningl device engaging certain of said strings, means for movingy said tightening device longitudinally to tighten or loosen such strings, and means anchoredin y the racket structure below said playing surace and passing through said tightening del vice to resist rotational movement thereof.

' and the remaining part of at least one of said lmi 12. A racket comprising a frame, a hollow handle, strings supported by said fra-me, means for tensioning said strings including a vrotatable member, a portion of said member extending into the hollow of said handle and facing a portion of the inner wall of said handle, a part ofeach 4of said portions being of the same diameter to afford a bearing,

portions being tapered thereby 'minimizing friction therebetween upon operation of said member. v

' In testimony whereof Ihereunto aiiix my signature.

JACOB L. KLEINMAN. 

